October 2017 - Rocker Replacement (Driver's Side)
Special note/disclaimer: this is my first serious work with a MIG welder let alone tackling perhaps one the most complex and critical areas of the BMW e120/e9. I invited a seasoned expert with 30 years of professional experience on these exact models for guidance. We conclude that I can salvage metal and shape to fit patches and panels where needed. I am quizzical as to whether I should have ordered replacement panels, or patched. I feel it is an “either-or” with this area of the project. Slightly rusted and pitted metal that is not seriously degraded is salvaged, treated with rust converted/neutralizer and sealed with a POR15 type encapsulator. I do not claim this effort to be in league with professional shops who would most likely do far more disassembly as well as complete panel replacements. Those types of restorations of these cars cost roughly $75,000 - $100,000 (after paint and reassembly back to new) and there are very few of those shops available. In later phases of this project, I do order replacement panels. I do use used salvaged panels and pieces with good structural integrity when available for replacements. I do complete the repairs on the driver side rockers with a sense of structural integrity required. ue to poor metalcoverage with superficial primers only.
